Changes to Number 2 Bus Service

National Express Dundee, formerly Travel Dundee, have announced changes to bus services commencing on 22nd November. The main change for the West End is a change to the Number 2 service, the details can be found on their website.

Today I met with Lawrence Davie, the Director of National Express Dundee to discuss bus services in the West End. I was particularly keen to discuss the changes to the Number 2 service.

This was a productive meeting. I know that the Number 2 bus service is very popular with many people in the West End, particularly the elderly. I sought some reassurance over the future of this service and I am glad to say that I got some reassurance. The service will now be a the same time every hour and I have been told that changes have been made to improve the reliability of the service. Improvements have been made to the 2S service which should make it easier for pupils from the West End to get to St John's High School. A number of parents have raised that issue with me and hopefully this will solve some of the problems which have been raised.

Obviously as with all such changes the proof of the pudding will be in the eating and it will be interesting to see if these changes do live up to the claims made for them. I was happy to meet with the bus company and discuss their work in the West End. If local residents have any problems with these services once the changes have been made I would be happy to go back to the bus company to raise their concerns.

Nablus Firefighters

This evening I attended a civic reception in honour of a group of firefighters from Dundee's twin town of Nablus in Palestine. A visit has been arranged by the Fire Brigades Union and the STUC to allow the firefighters to look at the work of firefighters in Scotland and to offer some training. The firefighters have undergone training at the Scottish Fire Service College in Gullane (the picture here shows one of the training sessions). They have also undergone some training at Tayside Fire and Rescue's urban rescue centre at Perth. This is a good opportunity for these firefighters to learn about how firefighters in the UK work. Hopefully they will be able to pass on some useful lessons on their return to Nablus. The FBU's website has interesting information on this visit. The FBU, the STUC and the fire authorities which have made this visit happen should be congratulated.

Two Minute Silence

This morning along with colleagues on the council and a large number of Dundonians and many of the women who were attending the STUC Women's Conference I was in the City Square to observe the two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day. It is important that we remember the sacrifices which have been made by our armed forces. A video of the short service is available on the internet. To support the poppy appeal click here.

West End Community Council

Tonight I attended the November meeting of the West End Community Council I look forward to these meetings which provide an opportunity for me, as an elected local councillor to listen to the concerns of local people. The main part of the business was a presentation on the work of TACTRAN , the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership. This presentation focused on interesting policy issues such as demand responsive transport, a local train service from Arbroath to Perth and a variety of proposals for park and ride schemes.

STUC Women's Conference

Today I attended, as a visitor, some sessions of the STUC Women's Conference which took place in the Caird Hall. It was good to hear the conference chair Pauline Rourke, from Dundee, open the conference. I also heard a passionate speech on equality delivered by Johann Lamont.

Later on I attended the civic reception held for the conference. It was good to meet a number of the delegates and to discuss the issues which concern them.

Dundee City Council Meetings 9 November 2009

Tonight saw the latest meeting of the City Council and its various committees. To read the reports and see the agendas click here. There were a number of interesting and important reports discussed. As a Director of Dundee Leisure, appointed by Dundee City Council, and a huge fan of our library network I was delighted to see a report which will result in the refurbishment of the roof at Lochee Leisure Centre and Neighbourhood Library. I hope that this will be an excellent base for the regeneration of Lochee. I know that Lochee Leisure Centre and Lochee Library are really popular both in Lochee and indeed across the city. I am delighted to see this investment coming forward.

Action on Queen Victoria Works Dundee

I have raised my concerns about the future of the former Tay Spinners site or Queen Victoria Works in Brook Street in the West End. This was one of the last jute mills working in Dundee. The picture here shows the mill from Brook Street or the Scouringburn and is from the Scran website. The site has been derelict for nearly twenty years. There has been a lot of regeneration in the area and a number of former mills have been used in very interesting ways to bring them into modern use.

As a historian of nineteenth century Dundee I think that it is important that we preserve links with Dundee's fascinating heritage in the jute and textile industry. It is also important to ensure that we find a sustainable and long-term use for this site. The Evening Telegraph tonight published my thoughts on this together with other local councillors.

In the meantime this site is still on the buildings at risk register of the Scottish Civic Trust, click here for more details.

Remembrance Sunday

This morning I attended the short service of remembrance at the War Memorial outside St Joseph's Church in Wilkie's Lane. It is sobering to look at the long list of names on that memorial and think that those men all came from the West End of Dundee. It was also sobering to think that their sacrifice is being remembered over 90 years on from World War I. It is important to remember that sacrifice and it is is important to work for a world where no more young men, or women, are giving their lives.

To support the poppy appeal click here.

Morven Terrace Sheltered Housing Coffee Morning

This morning I was pleased to attend a coffee morning at Morven Terrace Sheltered Housing Complex. It was a great to attend this event and get the chance to catch up with residents about their concerns and in most cases just to have a chat. Well done to everyone involved in organising this event.

Bonfire Night

Tonight I attended the Bonfire and Fireworks display at Lochee Park. As usual this was a great night. This is really well done and everyone involved in the organisation of the event deserves credit. This is the place to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night in Dundee, along with Baxter Park. This is a safe family occasion. I hope that Tayside Fire and Rescue have a quiet night tonight. It is good to celebrate Guy Fawkes night but it is important to do so safely.

Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre Board Meeting

Tonight I attended a meeting of the board of DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts). This was a very interesting meeting. The current exhibition by Thomas Hirschhorn, It's Burning Everywhere is on until 29th November. As I have said before it is well worth a visit but don't just take my view for this read this review from Scotland on Sunday which is very positive about the exhibition.

Welcome for funding for new Swimming Pool

Funding for the replacement of the Olympia Sports Centre in Dundee was announced today by sportscotland. The drawings above are impressions of how the new pool might look once it has received all the requisite permissions. I issued the statement below welcoming this funding from sportscotland.

Welcome for funding for new Swimming Pool

Scottish Labour spokesperson on Leisure, Arts and Communities on Dundee City Council, Councillor Richard McCready today welcomed the announcement of funding from sportscotland to allow the project tot replace the Olympia Swimming Pool to continue.

Councillor Richard McCready said, 'I welcome this announcement, I am glad that sportscotland and the Scottish Government have listened to the representations which I, and many others, have made to secure funding for the new pool. The proposals for the new pool were developed when I was the Convener of Leisure, Arts and Communities and it is good to see these plans being brought nearer to fruition.'

'Delivering excellent sports facilities for the people of Dundee is an important role for the council and I hope that the City Council will continue to provide excellent sports facilities. It is important that council builds on the interest in sport which will no doubt be created by the Olympic Games in London and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.'

'The new pool is an exciting proposal for the city of Dundee and I hope that this funding will allow real progress to be made on building this ambitious project. I hope that the building of the pool will be a welcome boost to the economy of Dundee in the not too distant future.'

Call for action over car parking at St Joseph's Primary

I have been approached a number of concerned parents and grandparents about the car parking situation at St Joseph's Primary School

I am calling for action over parking at St Joseph's Primary School. A number of concerned parents who are worried about parking on Bellfield Street at the beginning and the end of the school day have approached me, these parents are also concerned about the state of the alternative car park at Wilkie's Lane.

These parents have raised their concerns with me about road safety in the vicinity of St Joseph's. I am obviously aware of plans to replace St Joseph's but that is a few years away at least action is required now to protect the current pupils. I have contacted the Depute Chief Executive of the Council, Miss Patricia McIlquham who was responsible for a pilot scheme at Park Place Primary and at Eastern Primary. I want to know if there were any lessons learnt in the pilot and whether any of these could be applied to St Joseph's. I have also raised the issue with the Director of Education and asked what his department can do in this situation.

It is clear that the 'car park' at Wilkie's Lane is in a poor state of repair and that many people are unwilling to use it. I hope that the City Council can come up with some ideas which will improve road safety at St Joseph's.

Welcome for Fire Safety Report

I welcome the publication of a study into community fire safety in Scotland, entitled Scotland Together. This report highlights that fire deaths in Scotland are still at double the rate they are for the UK as a whole. I'm a member of the Tayside Fire and Rescue Board. To read the views of the authors visit Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service's website. To read the views of Tayside Fire and Rescue service firefighters click here.

I welcome this report and I will be studying it in detail. The report will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on 12th November and it will be interesting to hear the views of the parliament. I think that it is important that this report is given due consideration. I fully expect the report to be discussed in detail by Tayside Fire and Rescue Board in due course. The report is challenging and we need to give serious consideration to 'reduced ignition propensity cigarettes' and new regulations for sprinkler systems. We need to ensure that there is effective education and prevention schemes in place.

Last week I visited Tayside Fire and Rescue's Community Safety department and was very impressed with their work. We need to ensure that we are giving them all the support we can. I think if this report is studied and implemented we can make Scotland safer. It is important that the Scottish Government looks seriously at implementing this report. This is important for the safety of civilians and for the safety of the brave men and women of the fire and rescue service who work on our behalf to protect us.

Amnesty International Book-sale

This afternoon I was happy to attend a book-sale in aid of Amnesty International held at Dundee University. I managed to find a couple of interesting books to add to my collection. Well done to all those involved in organising this event.

More importantly I was happy to do a little bit to support Amnesty. Amnesty International do a great job and I have been a member for a number of years and I like to do what I can to support them. Promoting human rights is important, if you want to find out more about the work of Amnesty International visit their website.

Friends of Magdalen Green Coffee Morning

Saturday morning saw a well-attended coffee morning at Dundee West Church Hall for the Friends of Magdalen Green. The friends do a great job highlighting the excellent resource that Magdalen Green is and also protecting it against any problems. They run a photographic competition and the winning photographs make up the Friends of Magdalen Green calendar. For details of how to buy the excellent calendar please click here. The Friends website is worth a look, to find out about the other work they do.

Ricky Miller RIP

I want to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Ricky Miller who died last Saturday. Ricky was a stalwart of the Labour Party in Dundee. Ricky served for many years as the treasurer of the party and did an excellent job. He will be sorely missed. All political parties need people like Ricky who work away to ensure that the organisation works. Ricky's views and advice were always worth listening to. The picture above shows Ricky hard at work during an election campaign.

More importantly, away from politics Ricky was a family man and will be missed by his many friends and family, especially Eleanor his wife. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this time and I shall miss Ricky.

Tribute to local businessman

I was saddened recently to hear of the death of Jacob Chacko a restauranteur in the West End. I didn't know him personally but I do know that he made a major contribution to the community in the West end and he was responsible in some ways for the level of restaurants on the Perth Road. To read his family's tribute to him click here.

Bellfield Street/Hawkhill Junction

West End Councillor Richard McCready today welcomed moves by Dundee City Council's City Development Department to address concerns about the traffic lights at the junction of Bellfield Street and Hawkhill. Councillor McCready raised concerns with the department after constituents noticed that drivers turning left from Bellfield Street into Hawkhill were stopping for the red light on the Hawkhill which was not meant for them. To see a map of the area click here.

Councillor Richard McCready said, 'A couple of constituents raised this issue with me, and subsequently I noticed drivers doing this myself. These traffic lights were replaced over the summer and I think that the slightly different set up has caused a little confusion. Officers from the City Development Department have visited the site and decided that an extended hood on the red signal concerned should solve the problem. I will be keeping an eye on the situation but I am very pleased that there has been prompt action by the council on this issue.'


Notes

Please see below the response received from the City Development Department

My officers have visited the Hawkhill/Bellfield Street junction to observe driver behaviour and did observe one driver hesitating as they made the left turn from Bellfield Street. The convention that should be followed by drivers is that they should only stop at the red light if a solid white line is present. In the example you describe the drivers are observing the secondary red signal which relates to traffic approaching from the west (Hawkhill) and should continue through the junction unless other obstructions are present. This layout is fairly standard; however, to minimise any confusion we have arranged for an extended hood to be installed on the red signal.

Al Maktoum Graduations

On Wednesday afternoon I attended the graduation ceremony of the Al Maktoum Institute which was held in the Marryatt Hall. it was good to see a range of people from across the world and also some from Dundee being rewarded for their hard work.

Professor Nye, the principal of the institute, outlined their vision for the future and if they are successful it will be a very exciting project. I'd like to congratulate everyone who graduated and wish the Institute all the very best for the future. To find out more about the Institute visit their website. For more about their ambitious plans click here. The Al Maktoum Institute has played a role in the community in the West End and could do a lot more if their ambitious plans come to fruition.

Community Fire Safety

As a member of Tayside Fire and Rescue Board I visited MacAlpine Road Fire Station to get a briefing on community fire safety. To read a little more about the work of the community fire safety department visit their website.


I was very happy to get the opportunity to find out more about the work of the Community Fire Safety Department of Tayside Fire and Rescue. The work of firefighters nowadays is so much more than firefighting, they play an important role in educating people in an attempt to prevent fires. It was very interesting to hear about the range and breadth of the work which they undertake. They promote home fire safety visits and also undertake statutory fire safety work in commercial premises. It is clear that they do a lot of work in an attempt to keeps fires and fire injuries to an absolute minimum. Unfortunately we will never be able to replace the frontline firefighter who attends fires in an emergency but it is clear that lots of excellent work is being done to educate the public to promote fire safety.

Dundee City Disability Sports Council

This evening I attended a meeting of Dundee City Disability Sports Council. This was a very interesting meeting. The Disability Sports Council is looking to buy a new mini-bus and is actively fundraising. Please contact them if you are able to help. Over my time involved with this organisation I have been incredibly impressed by the work done by volunteers to promote disabled sport and also by the sporting prowess of those who take part.

Dundee Leisure Meeting

Tonight I attended a board meeting of Dundee Leisure, I am one of the Directors of this company, appointed by Dundee City Council. Dundee Leisure runs excellent sports facilities across Dundee. To find out more about Dundee Leisure's services visit their website.

Digital Switchover

This afternoon the City Council arranged for a briefing on the Digital Switchover for TV. I have already received a briefing on this but it was good to hear the latest updates. For details please see the Digital UK website.